Father’s Day is June 21, so I’ve devoted this blog to all dads, and keeping them healthy.    As you are probably well aware, heart disease is the leading cause of death among American men (and women).  One in every three men has heart disease and over 400,000 sons, husbands and dads die each year of a heart condition.

Sorry, I know those statistics are sobering and you probably wonder what that has to do with Father’s Day.  I’m suggesting that instead of getting Dad a power tool or neck tie this year, consider giving him a gift of good health. Heart heath, that is. 

That’s because the majority of heart disease cases are entirely preventable with a healthy diet and physical fitness. The key is just encouraging our dads —without nagging them—to take their heart health seriously.  Here are some gift ideas that may help your father live more heart-smart.  And, they’re such great gifts he may never notice that they’re good for his health too.

--Workout Sessions with a Coach or Trainer: Men are goal-oriented and often are inspired by athletic accomplishment.  With an athletic trainer or coach, you can give dad private training sessions to help him  get in shape for a special event like a bike or road race.

--Consider an Outdoor Adventure: For thrill-seeking men, try an outdoor adventure like a mountain bike tour, whitewater rafting trip, rock climbing or scuba diving.

--Get Him a Great Grilling Gadget: Dads may get lost in a kitchen but they take to grilling. Give him a basket filled with great grilling gadgets, spice rubs, and a grilling cookbook can get him excited about this healthier way of cooking.  Some great grilling gift ideas:

• A mesh grill-top fry pan for grilling vegetables;
• Cedar grilling planks or papers for making meats more flavorful without adding calories;
• A meat thermometer.

Once you have Dad fired up about grilling, have him try out this great pistachio-crusted tuna recipe from Eating Well magazine (http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/pistachio_crusted_tuna.html)    And remember: One to two handfuls of pistachios (1 ½ to 3 ounces) a day may reduce cardiovascular disease risk factors, according to a Penn State University study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 

Pistachio-Crusted Tuna Steaks

Pistachio crust teams up with a savory mustard-dill sauce for an exceptional tuna dish. Choose “sushi grade” tuna steaks if you prefer a milder flavor. Make it a meal: Serve with brown rice and steamed broccolini.

INGREDIENT:
1 tablespoon thinly sliced shallot
1 bay leaf
1/2 cup white wine
3 tablespoons reduced-fat sour cream
2 teaspoons lemon juice
2 teaspoons chopped fresh dill, divided
1 teaspoon whole-grain mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
1/4 cup coarse dry breadcrumbs, preferably whole-wheat (see Note)
1/4 cup shelled pistachios
4 4-ounce tuna steaks, 1-1 1/4 inches thick
1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil

1. Place shallot, bay leaf and wine in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce until the wine is almost evaporated, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, discard bay leaf and transfer to a small bowl. Add sour cream, lemon juice, 1 teaspoon dill, mustard and 1/4 teaspoon salt; stir to combine.

2. Put breadcrumbs, pistachios, the remaining 1 teaspoon dill and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a blender or food processor. Process until finely ground. Transfer to a shallow bowl. Dredge both sides of the tuna in the pistachio mixture.

3. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the tuna and cook until browned, adjusting the heat as necessary to prevent burning, 4 to 5 minutes per side for medium-rare. Serve with the lemon-dill sauce.

Makes 4 servings
ACTIVE TIME: 30 minutes
TOTAL TIME: 30 minutes

NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per serving: 241 calories; 7 g fat (2 g sat, 3 g mono); 55 mg cholesterol; 8 g carbohydrate

Kelly Plowe, MS, RD

Although she still remains a Boston sports fan, Kelly has changed her east-coast ways, adapting to the California lifestyle.